RIYADH: Norihiro Okuda, Japanese ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has described the forthcoming visit of King Salman as “significant,” reflecting the priority the Kingdom attaches to strengthening the relationship with Japan.
As part of his month-long Asian tour, King Salman is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on a three-day trip that will begin on March 12.
“The visit of King Salman to Japan is mainly intended to strengthen ties in different domains,” said Ambassador Okuda. He said that the king, during his stay in Japan, will hold wide-ranging talks with top Japanese officials covering bilateral, regional and international issues of common concern.
“First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt welcome to King Salman on the occasion of his visit to Japan,” Okuda said. “It will be King Salman’s first official visit in three years; he was there in Japan in 2014 in the capacity of crown prince.”
Regional issues involving East Asia will also be part of the meeting agenda, he said. The envoy also said that “Japanese officials would also like to exchange views on the Middle East regional issues such as Yemen and Syria with King Salman.”
He further pointed out that Japan will take up the opportunity during the visit of King Salman to consult on diverse issues, not only on economic issues, but also culture and entertainment in order to achieve the goals set in the Saudi Vision 2030, as well as security cooperation.
Ambassador Okuda noted the visit of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second deputy premier and defense minister, to Japan last September. “The visit was indeed an opportunity for both Saudi Arabia and Japan to reaffirm their sound bilateral relations over the past six decades, and to kick off an ambitious exercise to enhance collaboration to create (a) vibrant society and thriving economy through implementation of Saudi Vision 2030 and National Transformation Program 2020,” he added.
Asked about the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan, he said: “Japan highly commends a series of initiatives taken by the Kingdom to reform economy and society, and it wants to actively cooperate with Saudi Arabia to achieve the goals that the vision sets out.”
For that purpose, both countries have established the Joint Group for Saudi-Japan Vision 2030, he noted.
Okuda pointed out that a delegation headed by Hiroshige Seko, Japanese minister of economy, trade and industry, had his first meeting with his Saudi counterpart within the framework of the Joint Group in October. During the meeting, the two sides discussed areas of potential cooperation in fields like energy, health care, retail, animation and intellectual property.
He pointed out that the group has established five sub-groups, which will comprise senior officials and experts. These sub panels are in the fields of trade and investment opportunities, investment and finance, energy and industry, SME and capacity building, and culture and sports.
Referring to the outcome of the first meeting of group, Okuda said that both counties have had detailed discussions to identify specific areas and practical ways of cooperation. Areas such as infrastructure, entertainment, energy and the Saudi Aramco initial public offering are considered as priorities, he noted.
“Saudi and Japan hope to agree on high-priority projects at a ministerial meeting in Tokyo, which, we hope, will be held on the occasion of King Salman’s visit,” he added. “We welcome more frequent and more detailed discussions on the regional security issues between the two countries.”
Referring to the developments in the field of defense cooperation, Ambassador Okuda said, “the two countries will also focus on possible future defense cooperation including high-level reciprocal visits of high ranking defense officials and cooperation in the area of defense-related equipment.”
The envoy noted that the Kingdom recently appointed a defense attache in Tokyo, the first to serve in Japan in such a role. “His appointment is the symbol of the deepening relations between the two countries,” he said.
Saudi Arabia and Japan signed a defense agreement in Tokyo during the visit of the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last September.
King Salman’s visit to bolster Saudi-Japanese ties, says envoy
King Salman’s visit to bolster Saudi-Japanese ties, says envoy
Eastern Region’s green initiative shows remarkable progress
- Initiative has focused on introducing climate-appropriate trees and flowers
- Eastern Province Municipality emphasized the project’s collaborative nature
DAMMAM: Significant strides were made by the Eastern Province Municipality last year in its efforts towards vegetation expansion and anti-desertification.
The initiative, designed to counter industrial pollution, improve air quality and move towards environmental sustainability, has focused on introducing climate-appropriate trees and flowers while adhering to scientific afforestation guidelines and controls.
Throughout the year, the municipality launched 87 initiatives involving more than 1,200 volunteers across 60 parks. This included the Dammam Corniche waterfront and its walking trails where some 680,000 trees and shrubs were planted, complemented by 7.7 million flowers, expanding green coverage by 205,000 sq. meters.
Work was also carried out to rehabilitate streets and other spaces, while technical upgrades included maintenance work on 200 pumps and the installation of irrigation networks covering 30 km of streets.
There was also progress for the park investment program, with four parks already under investment management and 400 more designated for future opportunities.
The municipality emphasized the project’s collaborative nature, highlighting the active participation of community members, government bodies and the private sector companies. Its inclusive approach aims to cultivate a lasting environmental consciousness and ensure sustainability practices are passed down to future generations.
Riyadh to host second edition of Model of Care Forum
- Forum aims to introduce the Saudi healthcare model locally and internationally, highlight success stories, and outline future goals and ambitions
- Forum represents the second phase in a four-part strategic process in the healthcare sector’s transformation
RIYADH: Riyadh will host the second edition of the Model of Care Forum under the patronage of Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel.
Organised by the Health Holding Co. on Jan. 28-29, the forum will be held at Malfa Hall in Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City.
The forum aims to introduce the Saudi healthcare model locally and internationally, highlight success stories, and outline future goals and ambitions in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
It also promotes partnership in healthcare among individuals and their families by taking necessary measures to maintain their health, ensuring the provision of healthcare that meets societal needs according to the highest quality standards.
The forum represents the second phase in a four-part strategic process in the healthcare sector’s transformation, aimed at developing the healthcare model in the Kingdom.
The Health Holding Co. is playing a key role in enabling healthcare delivery through 20 health clusters across Saudi Arabia.
Directorate imposes new exit visa requirement
- Directorate addressed employers, stating that if a resident identity is valid for fewer than 30 days, the final exit visa may not be issued
- Resident identity must be renewed for the issuance of the final exit visa
RIYADH: The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has said that resident identities must be valid for at least 30 days when applying for a final exit visa.
The directorate addressed employers, stating that if a resident identity is valid for fewer than 30 days, the final exit visa may not be issued. In that case, the resident identity must be renewed for the issuance of the final exit visa.
It noted that if a resident identity is valid for more than 30 days and fewer than 60 days, a final exit visa may be issued for the resident identity’s remaining period.
If the resident identity is valid for 60 days or more, the final exit visa may be issued for 60 days only.
The directorate noted that employers may issue final exit visas for their sponsored workers or affiliated family members through the Ministry of Interior’s Absher Business platform, and the Muqeem portal.
Saudi king and crown prince congratulate Joseph Aoun on being elected president of Lebanon
- In a congratulatory cable, King Salman wished Aoun success and the Lebanese people further progress and prosperity
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Joseph Aoun on being elected president of Lebanon on Thursday.
In a congratulatory cable, King Salman wished Aoun success and the Lebanese people further progress and prosperity.The crown prince sent a similar cable.
Lebanon’s parliament voted Thursday to elect the country’s army commander, Joseph Aoun, as head of state, filling a more than two-year-long presidential vacuum.
Thursday’s session was the 13th attempt to elect a successor to Michel Aoun, whose term ended in October 2022.
King Abdulaziz Public Library launches Thara Saudi, Athar initiatives
- Through Thara Saudi the KAPL offers a number of programs that contribute to highlighting cultural tourism
- Athar is an interactive platform inspired by one of the pioneering national documentation projects, “The Encyclopedia of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”
RIYADH: General Supervisor of the King Abdulaziz Public Library Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muammar launched the Thara Saudi and Athar initiatives at the third Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh.
Through Thara Saudi the KAPL offers a number of programs that contribute to highlighting cultural tourism, while Athar is an interactive platform inspired by one of the pioneering national documentation projects, “The Encyclopedia of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Speaking at the launch, Muammar said: “The Thara Saudi Arabia is the initiative through which the library seeks to provide a distinctive cultural tourism experience that reflects the rich and diverse history and culture of the Kingdom and aims to present a sustainable vision that contributes to enhancing local culture in global languages.
“It comes as an expression of the efforts of 40 years of cultural and cognitive work, which created a national legacy and a sustainable impact,” added Muammar.
He said the KAPL also launched the Athar initiative, which represents the historical monuments and landmarks mentioned in the encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia, enabling tourists to discover the Kingdom in an unprecedented way.
This project is designed to enhance the Kingdom’s position as a global destination for cultural tourism, and reflects the great diversity Saudi Arabia enjoys.
Through its pavilion at the Saudi Tourism Forum, which was held from Jan. 7-9 at the Riyadh Front, the KAPL seeks to enhance cultural awareness and provide knowledge content that contributes to highlighting the Saudi national heritage, and encourages the exploration of the Kingdom’s unique cultural destinations.
In November the KAPL launched an initiative to position Saudi Arabia as a top global destination for cultural tourism by attracting visitors worldwide to explore the library’s diverse branches.
This project aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by strengthening national identity, fostering cultural exchange, and supporting sustainable development.
Through its efforts, the KAPL seeks to showcase Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage, folk arts, and traditions, while deepening citizens’ connections to their cultural roots and contributing to economic diversification.
